River Rats vs. Bears Game 1 Pre-Game

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The River Rats head into the second round of the playoffs against the Hershey Bears looking to defy recent history.Not only did Albany lose six of eight regular-season meetings against Hershey, it lost all four games in Chocolate Town.The Rats swept Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in four games to earn a berth against the Bears in the East Division final, which opens tonight at 7, with Game 2 on Sunday at 5 p.m.Three years ago, Albany faced Hershey in an East Division final and after the Rats gained a split in the first two games in Pennsylvania, the Bears won the next three games at the Glens Falls Civic Center to win the series.Last year, Hershey faced a stiff challenge in the division final round as they lost the first two games to Wilkes-Barre, but won the next three to take command of the series and went on to win the Calder Cup title.Albany scratches for Game 1: Defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, along with left wing Brad Herauf.Albany goalie Justin Peters (4-0, 2.25, .927) faces Michal Neuvirth (3-0, 1.67, .924) again.ALBANYForwardsJerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach BoychukChris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven GoertzenOskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob MicflikierNicolas Blanchard/Zac Dalpe/Drayson BowmanDefensemenBryan Rodney/Jamie McBainJay Harrison/Brett BellemoreCasey Borer/Tim Conboy

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About Me

Chris Fitz Gerald is a sports reporter at The Record in Troy, New York. A native of Scotia, Chris has covered local hockey and Thoroughbred horse racing for more than a decade. A 1990 graduate of The College at Brockport with a degree in communications and a minor in history, Chris resides in Troy.